“If they came prepared to blow up the compound, they came prepared to dismantle your dad’s security features.”
“I told myself the same thing, but that doesn’t change the fact they didn’t have to.”
“And that doesn’t alter the fact you saved your dad’s life.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Heaven knew she didn’t believe in carrying false guilt around. Daniel had enough of that for both of them.
She moved into his arms until she was wrapped up against him, seeking his strength and warmth. “I know it’s stupid, but, Daniel, I always thought he was indestructible. It never occurred to me that anybody could kill him. I guess I thought he was never going to die.”
Burying her face against his chest, she couldn’t say anything more past the lump of emotional revelation clogging her throat.
His hand rubbed up and down her back. “I know, sweetheart. There’s nothing stupid about it. I used to think that my mom couldn’t die either. I mean, she’d survived years of marriage to my dad; I couldn’t conceive of him seriously hurting her. He needed her. Even I could see that, though I wouldn’t call what he felt love.”
“I’m sorry she died.”
“I am, too, but I’m not going to make the mistake with you that I made with her.”
She pulled back so she could see his face. There had been an odd quality in his voice. “What do you mean?”
“You’re in danger right now.”
“So?”
“I want you to go stay with Wolf and Lise until the enemy is contained.”
“No.”
“I’m not giving you a choice, Josette.”
“Really? How do you plan to get me to Wolf’s? Carry me there with my arms tied behind my back?”
“If I had picked my mother up and carried her out of the house, she wouldn’t have been there for my dad to throw against a wall.”
“She would have gone back to him, just like I’m going to Nevada to see if my dad is there, even if I have to walk down the side of Wolf’s mountain and hitchhike cross-country. If you really want to make sure I’m safe, you’re going to have to keep me with you.”
“Josette—”
“Think about it, Daniel. I’m trained to protect myself and to neutralize the enemy. Please trust me to make the right decisions for my own safety.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“No. You didn’t have one with your mother either,” she couldn’t help saying.
He sighed, but didn’t argue with her. No anger evident in his eyes at her mutiny, he brushed the hair away from her temple. “You’re so perfect, such a special woman. I don’t want you hurt.”
Tears unrelated to her dad’s dangerous brush with death filled her eyes. “I’m a former mercenary, Daniel, not a debutante.”
“You’re my woman.” He nuzzled her face. “And so soft.”
Her mind splintered away from their discussion as his gentle touch drew forth a reaction from her body that had nothing to do with making war. She turned her face toward his and met his lips halfway.
She opened her mouth, and their tongues collided in a mutual need to taste. Her hands slid of their own accord up his chest and around his neck as her body pressed into the hard length of his. His arms were already locked around her, but they tightened until she felt melded to him despite the clothes separating flesh hungry to touch naked flesh.
“This is becoming a habit.” The humor in Hotwire’s voice couldn’t even dampen the need Josie felt to connect with Daniel.
She ignored the other man’s presence and went up on her tiptoes to increase the pressure of her lips against his.
It was Daniel who drew away, holding her firmly separated from him when she tried to burrow back into his arms. He turned his head toward Hotwire. “This had better be good.”
“I chased down the leads Josie uncovered and followed up on the suggestions Claire made at dinner. Someone is definitely using the deceased veteran’s name to live under.”
“Where?” Josie asked.
“You were right…Nevada. In a sparsely populated area south of Reno.”
“That sounds like Dad.”
“I made plane reservations for tomorrow, but we’ve got to do something about Claire. She needs to stay somewhere else for the duration.”
“You’re leaving tomorrow?” Claire came into the room and pushed her glasses up on her nose, looking at Josie with that vague look she got when she was concentrating on a new program.
“We think my dad’s in Nevada. We have to check it out.”
“And you need to stay somewhere else for a while,” Hotwire added.
“Why?”
“The house has been compromised. You won’t be safe staying here alone,” Josie replied. “Will that be all right?”
Claire bit her lip and didn’t meet Josie’s eyes, but she nodded. “Sure. I’ll get packed tonight and leave in the morning.”
“Where are you going to stay?” Josie asked.
“Don’t worry about it. There are plenty of places I can go.”
Josie didn’t like the vague answer. “Are you sure? You haven’t had anyone over since you moved in, and the only time you go out is to visit the old people in the nursing home where you work, or volunteer at the shelters downtown. I don’t want you staying in one of them while we’re gone.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Hotwire said, sounding meaner than Josie had ever heard him.
“We can rent her a hotel suite,” Daniel suggested.
“No, thank you.” Claire smiled at Josie. “That won’t be necessary, believe me. I’ll stay at the nursing home. They’ve got several empty beds right now, and the staff likes me.”
She sounded surprised by the fact, but Josie wasn’t. Claire was an angel to the old people, and the staff all loved her for it.
“You’re going to live in a nursing home?” Hotwire demanded, not sounding appreciably more pleased by that idea than Claire sleeping in a shelter.
“I’ve stayed in worse places. Much worse if you want the truth. Staying with Essie or one of the other old ladies won’t be a problem for me at all, and as long as you don’t mind me borrowing your computer for a while longer, I can keep up with my classes.”
“That’s not a problem.” He looked at Josie. “What about your classes?”
“I’m not carrying a full course load this summer like Claire is. I’ll catch up later, and if I can’t, finding my dad is more important than passing a couple of computer classes, but Claire shouldn’t have to make that choice. None of this is her problem.”
“Standing by my friends is not a problem,” Claire said, her voice firm with purpose.
Hotwire insisted on seeing Claire settled into her new accommodations before informing Josie and Daniel he’d booked flights for only the two of them. “Someone should stay here in case the bad guys come back and try to break in again. Besides, I can use the time to investigate those fanatics in the Rockies that have possession of your laptop.”
“You sure you can handle it?” Daniel asked.
“On my worst day.”
“Then why did you make Claire leave?” Josie asked.
“She could be at risk if they did come back, and she’d be a distraction even if they didn’t.”
“I thought there was something going on there.”
Hotwire frowned. “Nothing’s going on.”
“But you want her,” Daniel said bluntly.
“Yes. I’m not going to have her, though. Did you know she’s a pacifist and a vegetarian?” Hotwire asked, sounding as if he didn’t know what to make of either of those facts.
“She’s also a crack programmer and has design skills that are going to outshine Andy Grove’s one day.”
Hotwire just shook his head.